Kit for sorting cards



April 22, 1952 M. c. NOLAN 2,593,594

KIT FOR SORTING CARDS Filed Aug. 8, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 INVENTOR. Mme/4.4 C Nam/v April 22, 1952 M. c. NOLAN 2,593,594

KIT FOR SORTING CARDS Filed Aug. 8, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w INVENTOR. FIG. 5 Mme/LL (I Mu fl/V M M M 4770Nifj April 22, 1952 M. c. NQLAN KIT FOR SORTING CARDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1949 INVEN TOR. Aft-Mm 6," Wow/v Patented Apr. 22, 1952 sr rEs sar or ies 2,593,594. IT FOR SORTING CARDS ration Application August 8, 1949, Serial No. 109,108

6 Claims. (Q1. 12,9,1)

This invention relates to a complete kit or unit for employment with statistical cards.

More particularly, it relates to a complete kit or unit adapted to field use with marginally perforated cards of the Keysort type.

It is an objectof the present inyention to provide a kit or unit of the character described which, n not in use, can' e read fol d into a compact kit and which, when it is desired to use the same, iseasily set up and easily operated, I

It is a further and a particular object of the invention to provide a kit constituting a complete unit, whereby marginally perforated fKeysort cards of the character described can be manipulated, entries can be made thereon and the cards can be sorted as desired, such. kit also folding up into a neat, compact unit when not in use.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

The invention is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example.

in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the kit shown in folded condition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing, however, the first step in unfolding and setting up the kit.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the kit unfolded but with certain of the interior elements in folded, inoperative condition.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views, taken from the front and back, respectively, showing the kit in the final stages of setting it up for operation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the kit, on a larger scale, showing the same as being used for posting operations.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the kit show,- ing the manner of using it for sorting ,cards.

Referring now to the drawings, a kit or field unit is shown and is. generally designated as 9. As illustrated, the kit 9 comprises a case l0 formed with a hinged end portion H and a hinged flap H which, when the kit'i's'folded, are secured by means of fasteners Mfto a cover portion iii. The case it is also formed with hinged, nesting side portions It, with a, fixed side portion ltd and with an end portion [1 and a bottom portion l8.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the end portion H and the flap is when unfolded and laid fiat, provide a shelf to receive and allow convenient access to tools and appurtenances which areheld by straps I9 and 20. As illustrated, these tools 2 and appurtenances comprise a hand punch 25, a master sorting tumbler 26, pencils 21 and sorting; needles 23, the purpose and function of which are explained hereinafter.

Referring now to 3, the kit is there shown as being unfolded but with the inner parts still in inoperative condition. The cover 15, the bottorn portion It and other elements of the case NJ- provide a convenient base and framework for supporting the other operating elements of the kit. Ifhe base so provided will be designated hereina te b he num r it will be seen that an inner frame member CIT-bracket 4.9 is provided which is fixedto-the base 39;, adjacent the rear edge and to one side tl' ereof-. The bracket to is formed with forwardly extending ears ti and a bail member 42 is provided which is pivotally connected at its ends; to the ears l-l Tension springs 43 are also provideieacl bein fixed at one end to the bail 4'2; and at the opposite end to an ear 4|, so as; normally to urge the bail in a downward position for a purpose explained hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 4i and 5 as well as to 3, a ledger tray generally designated as 44 is provided. This ledger tray is formed by a ilat, folded member made of cardboard, composition material or' any other suitable material nd it om i es a ar-s ct on 45, a a d u po in secti n 6 hins d co ne ted h r t nd; at, 4: o t ba a f r 6 10 114 and; an end section 56 which limits against a stop bracket 5| fixed to the base 30.

To he r h of th led er tray 44 as iewe in F 8 an t e s ro de a r ali n: ment membe 5 h n a shelf 55. a a b se portion disposed at right angles thereto and a guide portion 51 along one edge thereof. The alignment element 54 is hingedly connected at 58 tothe base 30. Forwardly of the alignment member 5A a soft or resilient pad 60 is fixed to the base 30 to receive a pad 5! of note paper. As is also shown, angle springs 62 and 63 are pivotally supported upon the base 36 for a purpose explained hereinafter.

' "In operation, the kit liiisemployed and manipulatedasfollows: First, of coursathe flap I2 and end por ion H are unlatched and laid out asillustrated in Fig. 2 and then the cover and bottom portions, 5 and I8 arelaid out as illustrated in Fig. 3. It willbe noted that when in this position and also, of course, when the kit is folded up, as shown in. Figs. 1 and 2, a supply of ledger cards 64 areneatly stacked between the-ears M of brackettfiand are held firmly in place by means 3 of the folded ledger tray All and the spring biased bail member t2. It will also be seen that the alignment member 54 and the paper pad 6| are held firmly in position by means of the angle springs 62 and 63.

As shown in Figs. 4. and 5, the ledger tray 44 is unfolded with the ledger cards 64 supported thereon in a convenient position for inspection and other operations. As is best shown in Fig. 5,

when the ledger tray has been set up, the bail.

d2 serves to brace the rear section 45 of the ledger tray and, in cooperation with the stop bracket 5|, to fix the ledger tray firmly in operative position. As shown in Fig. 5, the alignment member is pivoted to a suitably inclined position and is supported and latched therein by means of an arm 65 pivotally connected thereto at 66. The kit 9 is now in complete readiness for operation.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the ledger cards ti l 4 have each a front or face portion 8 1a and a rear portion Edi). These ledger cards are of known type and are formed with marginal perforations it along all four edges, arranged in parallel inner and outer rows. As is also indicated, each ledger card is provided with ruled lines H and with any suitable indicia (not shown) for the purpose of entry of information on both the faces of the card. As is well known in the art, ledger cards of this type, such as the well known Keysort cards, are notched or slotted at E2 along their edges in registry with the marginal perforations, for the purpose of coding and selecting the cards.

As shown in Fig. 6, a stack of the ledger cards can be conveniently posted on either or both faces thereof, by folding the forward and end sections 49 and so of theledger tray so as to lie flat, thus allowing convenient access for posting entries on the front faces of a stack of cards supported by the ledger tray. Posting on the rear faces of the cards is accomplished by supporting a stack of cards on the alignment member 56. Obviously; posting on both-sides of the cards, or left and right hand posting, can be carried out convenient ly by this arrangement.

It will be apparent, of course, that if it is de-- sired to run quickly through a stack of ledger cards for visual inspection and selection of the cards, the cards may be stacked in the ledger tray M with either face forward, as desired. In this case the ledger tray ad will be completely set up as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the operator need only flip the cards forwardly as he runs through them.

For purposes ofmechanical selection of cards, the alignment element 55 is employed. Thus, a stack of ledger cards is placed on the shelf 55 and allowed to rest against the base portion 55. The stack of cards is then pushed against the guide. portion 51 so that the edges of the cards are flush- The marginal perforations it are thus brought into precise registry, so that multiple selection by means of the sorting needles 28 or offsetting by means of the master sorting tumbler 26 may be carried out. offsetting by means of the master sorting tumbler 26 is illustrated by Fig. 7, and it will be seen that in this instance, the ledger cards, after beingaligned on'the alignment number 54 and after insertion of the sorting tumbler through a selected perforation it, are transferred to the ledger tray for greater convenience of operation.

It will be apparent that the tools and appurtenances carried on the end section or shelf 1 l are conveniently located and that they permit the carrying out of a multiplicity of operations. Use of the sorting tumbler 26 and sorting needles 28 4 has been mentioned. The pencils 2'! are conveniently located for posting and the hand punch 25 for notching and slotting the cards.

It will thus be apparent that a kit has been provided which collapses and folds into a very compact, neat appearing package, and that when it is unfolded and set up it is adapted to a multiplicity of operations. Thus, reading or scannin of cards on both faces thereof is facilitated. Also, left and right-hand turning of the cards for the purpose of posting on both faces thereof or for inspection of both faces thereof is facilitated, and these operations are possible without the necessity of removing any of the cards from the order in which they are stacked. The apparatus also lends itself readily to the operations of posting, oifsetting and multiple-needle sorting.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A kit of the character described adapted to posting and sorting of marginally perforated ledger cards and the like, comprising a housing having top and bottom portions adapted to enclose the contents of the kit when folded and to provide a base therefor when unfolded, a foldable ledger tray foldable within the kit and hingedly connected to the housing and unfoldable to provide a support for a stack of ledger cards during posting operations, and an alignment member arranged in side-by-side relationship with said ledger tray, said alignment member being hingedly connected to the housing and being foldable within the kit and including means for supporting it at a suitable angle and guide means along one edge thereof for aligning a stack of cards supported thereon.

2. A kit of the character described adapted to posting and sorting of marginally perforated ledger cards and the like, comprising a housing having top and bottom portions adapted to enclose the contents of the kit when folded and to provide a base therefor when unfolded, a foldable ledger tray foldable within the kit hingedly connected to the housing and unfoldable to provide support for a stack of ledger cards during posting operations, said ledger tray comprising a rear portion adapted when unfolded and set up to support a stack of cards in suitably inclined position, and a forward portion oppositely inclined to provide a support for cards as they are turned over during posting, and an alignment element disposed in side-by-side relationship with said ledger tray, said alignment element being hingedly' connected to the housing and being foldable within the kit and being provided with means for supporting it at a suitable angle for supporting a stack of cards and with alignment means along one edge thereof for aligning said stack of cards.

3. A kit of the character described adapted to posting and sorting of marginally perforated ledger cards and the like, comprising a housing having top and bottom portions adapted to en close the contents of the kit when folded and to provide a base therefor when unfolded, a foldable ledger tray foldable within the kit and unfoldable to provide a support for a stack of ledger cards during posting operations, said ledger tray including a portion adapted to be set at a suitable angle and to support a stack of cards in suitably inclined position for posting and a forward and oppositely inclined portion adapted to provide support for cards as they are turned over during posting, a bail member and resilient means urging the bail member against said ledger tray to support the same in unfolded, operative position, and a stack of ledger cards for said kit, said ledger cards being encompassed by said ledger tray and being clamped therein by said ball member when the kit is folded.

4. A kit of the character described, comprising a foldable case adapted to enclose the contents of the kit when folded and to provide a base therefor when unfolded, a bracket fixed to the base and having forwardly extending ears, said bracket being adapted to receive a stack of ledger cards between said ears, a stack of ledger cards so received, a foldable ledger tray encompassing said cards when folded and including a rearward portion and a forwardportion respectively adapted when the ledger tray is set up to support a stack of cards and to receive cards as they are flipped over, a bail hinged to said bracket, spring means operable to urge the bail against the ledger tray when in folded position to clamp the cards therein and to bear against the ledger tray when in unfolded, set up position to support the same, an alignment member hingedly mounted on said base inside-by-side relationship to the ledger tray, said alignment member having a bottom shelf for supporting a stack of cards and having along one edge a guide member for aligning a stack of cards, and means for supporting the alignment member in inclined position.

5. A kit of the character described adapted to posting and sorting of marginally perforated ledger cards and the like comprising, a housing or case having top and bottom portions adapted to enclose the contents of the kit when folded and to provide a base therefor when unfolded, a foldable ledger tray foldable within the kit and unfoldable to provide a support for a stack of ledger cards during posting operations, said ledger tray comprising a first card support hingedly connected to the housing and swingable against the housing to an inoperative position and therefrom to an inclined operative position, a bracing member hingedly connected to the first card support and swingable beneath the first card support and thereagainst to an inoperative position and-therefrom to an operative position, means operatively connecting the bracing member to the housing when the bracing member is in its operative position, a second card support, means hingedly connecting the second card support to the first card support to enable the second card support to be swung to an inoperative position overlying the first card support and therefrom to an inclined operative position, a bracing member hingedly connected to the second card support and swingable thereagainst to an operative position and therefrom to an inoperative position, means for operatively connecting the last-named bracing member to the housing when the bracing member is in its operative position, and a springpressed bail for holding the parts together in inoperative position.

6. A kit of the character described adapted to posting and sorting of marginally perforated ledger cards and the like comprising, a housing or case having top and bottom portions adapted to enclose the contents of the kit when folded and to provide a base therefor when unfolded, a foldable ledger tray foldable within the kit and unfoldable to provide a support for a stack of ledger cards during posting operations, said ledger tray comprisin a first card support hingedly connected to the housing and swingable against the housing to an inoperative position and therefrom to an inclined operative position, a bracing member hingedly connected to the first card support and swingable beneath the first card support and thereagainst to an inoperative position and therefrom to an operative position, means operatively connecting and bracing member to the housing when the bracing member is in its operative position, a second card support, means hingedly connecting the second card support to the first card support to enable the second card support to be swung to an inoperative position overlying the first card support and therefrom to an inclined operative position, a bracing member hingedly connected to the second card support and swingable thereagainst to an operative position and therefrom to an inoperative position, means for operatively connecting the last-named bracing member to the housing when the bracing member is in its operative position, a bail member and resilient means urging the bail member against the ledger tray to support the same in unfolded operative position, a stack of ledger cards for said kit, said ledger cards being encompassed by said ledger tray and being clamped therein by said bail member when the kit in folded.

MERRILL C. NOLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,727,011 Heileman Sept. 3, 1929 2,283,584 Sloan May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 549,050 Germany 1932 232,617 Switzerland 19*13 

